Apparatus for preloading a tray and transferring the preloaded material to a sealing fixture for heat sealing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for preloading a tray with a bubble or blister and a product and transferring same to a movable sealing fixture positioned directly thereunder so that the bubble, product and a backing card subsequently applied thereon can be moved into a heat sealing apparatus, said preloading tray remaining accessible for subsequent preloading while said sealing fixture moves into and out of said sealing apparatus and is unloaded, thereby eliminating the waste of time which normally occurs in loading and heat sealing.

1111 3,889,452 1 June 17, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR PRELOADING A TRAY may "I. 6 mb n "k vsh 03 RK 4 6 9 H 7 5 0o 2 4 AND TRANSFERRING THE PRELOADED 0 R 5 6 9 H 2 5 7 O 7 1 MATERIAL TO A SEALING FIXTURE FOR HEAT SEALING 342,010 9/1967 Henry 491,505

1/1970 Hasselmann 524.295 8/1970 Spaulding 1/1973 [75] Inventors: Robert L. Loeffler, Chicago; Ronald winsor, Downers Grove both of 3,709,429 McKenzie et a1 111.

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max R. Kraus Apr. 18, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for preloading a tray with a bubble or Appl. No.: 352,

blister and a product and transferring same to a movable sealing fixture positioned directly thereunder so that the bubble, product and a backing card subsequently applied thereon can be moved into a heat sealing apparatus, said preloading tray remaining accessible for subsequent preloading while said sealing fixture moves into and out of said se aling apparatus and is unloaded, thereby eliminating the waste of time which normally occurs in loading and heat sealing.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,363,014 11/1944 Nicolle................'.............. 53/373 X 7 Claims, 9-Drawing Figures 1 APPARATUS FOR PRELOADING A TRAY AND TRANSFERRING THE PRELOADED MATERIAL TO A SEALING FIXTURE FOR HEAT SEALING BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is now common practice in heat sealing procedure to provide a movable sealing fixture into which the operator places a bubble or blister, then places the product therein, applies a backing card thereover and moves same into the heat sealing apparatus, and after the sealing has been performed and the sealing fixture withdrawn from the sealing apparatus the sealed carded bubble and product is unloaded from the sealing fixture. While this operation proceeds the operator must wait until the sealing fixture is positionable for subsequent loading, after which the same procedure is repeated. Thus, there is a lapse of time between each loading, advancement and return to and from the heat sealing apparatus and the unloading, during which period of time the operator is idle and cannot use this time until the sealing fixture is unloaded. In addition, this ties up the sealing equipment and increases labor and production costs.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a preloading tray or a plurality of preloading trays which are preloaded with the bubble and product during the period that the sealing fixture is moving into and out of the heat sealing apparatus and being unloaded, and when the sealing fixture is returned to its initial position under the preloaded tray, the bubble and product are then transferred from the preloaded tray to the sealing fixture directly beneath so that the sealing fixture can be advanced, first for applying a backing card and then into the sealing apparatus. The moment that said bubble and product is transferred from the preloading tray, the preloadng tray is free to be loaded again. Thus, there is no period of time which is wasted during the movement and operation of the sealing fixture as the preloading tray is at all times accessible for loading while the sealing fixture moves through its sealing operation and the unloading thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide means which includes an apparatus for preloading for heat sealing which eliminates the waste of time that is nor mally attendant in such operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the method and apparatus forming this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the preloading tray.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing one manner of connecting the intersecting wires of the preloading tray.

FIG. 4A is another manner of connecting the intersecting wires.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which strips are used in lieu of the wires.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG.

6; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing a modification in which a plurality of preloading trays are rotatably mounted, with each tray to be positioned over the sealing fixture, and showing the preloaded trays supporting a bubble and product of a configuration different from that shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIGS. 1 5

The conventional heat sealing apparatus is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and same is supported on a base 12. The heat sealing apparatus has the conventional open ended heat sealing compartment generally indicated at 14 into which the sealing fixture 16 travels to and fro. Extending horizontally into the heat sealing compartment is a pair of spaced L-shaped rails 18 on which the sealing fixture 16 travels into and out of the heat sealing compartment.

Positioned rearwardly of the heat sealing apparatus is a supporting member generally indicated at 20 which has four vertically adjustable uprights 22 adjustably secured thereto as at 23, with the tops of said uprights secured as at 24 to the preloading tray generally indicated at 26. The uprights are raised or lowered for the purpose of adjusting the horizontal position of the preloading tray 26 relative to the sealing fixture 16. The rear end of the rails 18 are secured to the supporting member 20 by short uprights 19.

The conventional sealing fixture 16 comprises an upper plate 30 provided with suitably spaced configured openings 32 for accommodating the particular shaped bubble or blister. As illustrated, the openings 32 are circular to accommodate a dome-shaped bubble 34 which is provided with a continuous flange 35 extending therearound, which flange is adapted to rest on the surface of the plate 30 around said opening 32, as best seen in FIG. 5. Ring-shaped rubber pads 36 are positioned on plate 30 surrounding the openings 32 and the flange 35 of the bubble rests on said rubber pads. The sealing fixture 16 is also provided with a bottom plate 38 which is spaced from the top plate 30 by vertical posts 39. Rollers 40 are secured to the bottom plate 38 and roll on the rails 18.

Said sealing fixture 16 is conventional and previously the sealing fixture was loaded with the bubble and product and then covered with a backing card and fed into the sealing apparatus and during such loading and travel to and from the sealing apparatus and the unloading the operator had to wait, as not until the sealing fixture was returned and unloaded was it possible to reload the sealing fixture. This resulted in a considerable waste of time for the operator and the unused time of the sealing apparatus.

The present invention utilizes the preloading tray 26 which, as shown in'FIG. l, is positioned adjacent one end of the base and said preloading tray is being constantly preloaded as the sealing fixture 16 travels into and out of the sealing apparatus 10. The preloading tray 16 is formed of a frame generally indicated at 42 which is formed of spaced sides 43 and 43a and spaced ends 44 and 44a secured together to form a generally rectangular or square-shaped frame. The sides and ends of the frame 42 are preferably formed of metal angle irons having a horizontal top wall and a vertical wall, the top wall being used for anchoring the spaced intersecting wires. The spaced intersecting wires are supported by said frame, the spaced longitudinally extending wires being indicated at 46 and the transversely extending wires which intersect the longitudinal wires being indicated at 48. While the wires intersect, they are superposed as can best be seen in FIG. 4.

The longitudinal wires 46 are secured at the end 44 of the frame member 42 by clips 50 which are slidable on said frame end 44 and are fixedly positioned by screws 51 secured in spaced openings 53 in end 44 of said frame. The opposite ends of said wires are attached to a coil spring 52 which in turn is anchored by a clip 54 to the end 44a of the frame. Said clip 54 is also slidable with respect to the end 44a of the frame and is fixedly secured to said end by screws 55 secured in spaced openings 57 in ends 440 of said frame. The transversely extending wires 48 are similarly secured to the sides 43 and 43a of the frame. The ends of the wires 48 are secured to clips 56 which in turn are slidably supported on the side 43 and are fixedly positioned thereon by screws 59 engaging spaced openings, with the opposite end of each of the wires being secured to a coil spring 58, in turn secured to a clip 60 which is slidably supported on the opposite side 43a of the frame, the clips being fixedly secured thereon by screws 61 engaging spaced openings, similar to that previously described.

It should be noted that the longitudinal and transverse wires 46 and 48 are slidably adjustable with respect to the frame 42 and with respect to each other, that is, they may each be slid relative to the frame 42 to provide any desired configured dimensional inner supporting frame members, all generally designated at 62, which are formed where the wires intersect and overlap each other. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where each pair of transverse wires 48 intersect and overlap the longitudinal wires 46 there is provided a square or rectangular-shaped wire frame generally indicated at 62, each consisting of four wires, and a plurality of such wire frames 62 are formed within the main frame 42. Twelve of such spaced wire frames 62 are shown in FIG. 2, although the number may be increased or decreased. Each of these spaced wire frames 62 is adapted to receive a bubble or blister 34, with the flange of the bubble resting on the spaced wire frame to support same.

The longitudinal and transversely extending wires 46 and 48 are adjusted relative to each other to intersect and form the desired inner wire frames 62 having the required dimension to accommodate the particular bubble to be inserted therein. At the intersection of said wires a clip 64 is secured around said wires, as best seen in FIG. 4. Said clips may comprise rings which, while they hold the intersecting wires, permit the wires to slide relative to each other for adjustment and also for transferring the bubble from the preloading tray to the sealing fixture. Each preloading frame unit is formed so that it can accommodate a plurality of inner wire frame members 62 formed by the intersecting wires.

The preloading tray 26 is positioned at a higher elevation than is the sealing fixture 16 so that the sealing fixture can be moved directly under the preloading tray after the tray has been preloaded and it is desired to transfer the preloaded bubble and product from the preloading tray to the sealing fixture. While the sealing fixture 16 is moving into and out of the sealing apparatus and being unloaded, the preloading tray 26 remains stationary so that the operator can preload it, and by virtue of this preloading there is no loss of time for the operator during the sealing-operation and the unloading of the sealing fixture.

OPERATION In loading the preloading tray 26 the operator first places the conventional bubble or blister 34 into the inner wire frames 62 and the flange 35 of each of the bubbles 34 rests on the longitudinally and transversely extending wires to support said bubble, with the open end of the bubble facing upwardly and the formed portion of the bubble facing downwardly. The operator then places the product P to be packaged into the bubble. This is done with respect to all of the bubbles positioned in the preloading tray 26. When the sealing fixture 16 is returned from its sealing operation and unloaded it is positioned directly under the preloading tray 26, with the openings 32 in the top plate 30 in alinement with the inner frame members 62. By applying a downward manual pressure against the top open end of the bubble, the bubble flange 35 slips between the longitudinal and transverse wires 46 and 48 and is transferred into the openings 32 in the sealing fixture 16 directly underneath the preloadng tray. This is possible by virtue of the resiliency of the intersectng wires and the manner in which they are spring mounted. There is sufficient give in the wires to permit this transfer. While the bubble and product may be transferred from the preloading tray to the sealing fixture by a downward manual pressure, this invention invisions the application of mechanical means for so doing. After the bubble and product are transferred to the sealing fixture 16, the sealing fixture next moves forwardly to a second stage, namely, to the position shown in FIG. 1, where another operator places the backing card C over the exposed and open portion of the bubble. The sealing fixture 16 is provided with spaced registering pins 66 around each opening 32 which serves to define the area into which the card C is positioned. After the card is positioned over the exposed portion of the bubble, the sealing fixture 16 and the bubble, product and card then advances into the sealing apparatus 10 where the card is sealed to the bubble with the product therebetween in the conventional manner.

After the sealing is completed by the sealing apparatus the sealed product returns from the sealing apparatus and at the first return stage of the sealing fixture, which would correspond to the position shown in FIG. 1, the operator unloads or removes the sealed objects from the sealing fixture, after which the sealing fixture is returned to its starting position directly under the preloading tray 26. It will be understood that as the sealing fixture moves forwardly and rearwardly that the preloading tray is being loaded by the other operator.

FIG. 4A

FIG. 4A shows a modified wire clip 68 which connects the intersecting longitudinal and transverse wires 46 and 48. It operates in the same manner as the clip 64.

FIGS. 6 and 7 FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification in which the preloading tray 26 is formed with spaced longitudinally and transversely extending metal straps 461i and 48a which at the points of intersection are connected by a metel clip 70 having a tongue 71 formed therein which applies a pressure against the straps. The straps and the clip in this embodiment operates in the same manner as previously described with respect to the preloading tray 26.

FIG. 8

FIG. 8 shows a modification in which in lieu of a single preloading tray like 26 there is a plurality of preloading trays, indicated at 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d, which are mounted on a rotatable support 80, rotatable about an axis 82 to be rotatable with respect to the base and to the sealing fixture 16'. Said plurality of preloading trays are each identical to the preloading tray 26 previously described and they are arranged around a circle on the rotatable support 80 so that when the support 80 is rotated each preloading tray is in turn positioned in alignment with and directly over the sealing fixture 16 so that the transfer from the particular preloading tray to the sealing fixture can take place. By this arrangement one or more operators can preload the plurality of preloading trays 26a through 26d and when the sealing fixture 16 is ready for receiving the preloaded objects the loading trays are successively moved into proper position over the sealing fixture.

With respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the movement can be synchronized and timed so that the sealing frame 16 is moved at a predetermined timed relation along the base and into the sealing apparatus 10 and outwardly thereof to permit the operator to preload the preloading tray 26.

The modification shown in FIG. 8 can likewise have the rotation of the plurality of preloading trays 26a 26d in synchronous relation so that each preloaded tray moves directly over the sealing fixture 16' in a timed relation and the material is transferred from the preloading tray to the sealing fixture which then advances and returns. On the return of the sealing fixture the next preloading tray is positioned directly over the sealing fixture to permit the transfer from that particular preloading tray to said sealing fixture.

With this invention there is no time lost by the loading operator in waiting for the return of the sealing fixture as during the movement of the sealing fixture the operator can preload the preloading tray.

In the FIG. 8 embodiment the preloading trays have been modified to accommodate a different shaped bubble and product from that previously described. The frame 42 of each of the preloading trays is provided with pairs of spaced longitudinally extending wires 84 arranged at inclined angles with respect to the frame, forming in each frame a plurality of such pairs of wires, each pair being angled differently. The wires 84 are secured to the frame similarly to the longitudinal wires 46 previously described. A bubble indicated at 86, having flanges 88 is positioned between each such pair of Iongitudinal wires, with the flanges resting on the wires. The bubble in this instance is generally elongated and trapezoid to accommodate an elongated product of a shape considerably different from that accommodated in the bubble 34. The wires 84 are adjustable relative to each other as well as relative to the frame and may be angled to the inclination desired by the manner in which they are secured to the frame. The sealing fixture 16 is provided with suitably shaped openings to accommodate the bubbles 86.

With this invention the preloading tray can by virtue of the wires or bands and the manner in which they are adjustable relative to the frame and to each other be made to accommodate any shaped bubble as well as any shaped product.

What is claimed is:

1. A preloading tray for supporting flanged bubbles for use in connection with a heat sealing apparatus and a slidably supported sealing fixture, said preloading tray positioned in spaced relation to said heat sealing apparatus with said sealing fixture between said heat sealing apparatus and said preloading tray and slidably movable into and out of said heat sealing apparatus and also under said preloading tray, said preloading tray including a frame member having a plurality of resiliently mounted spaced members connected to said frame and providing open spaces between said members, with the flanges of the bubbles positionable to rest on said spaced members with the bubble extending therebelow and adapted to support a product therein, means for mounting said sealing fixture slidably directly under said preloading tray to permit transfer of said bubble and product to said sealing fixture by moving said bubble downwardly so that the flange of the bubble passes between the spaced members so that said preloading tray remains free for subsequent preloading as said sealing fixture is moved into and out of said heat sealing apparatus.

2. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which the spaced members are adjustable relative to each other and to said frame to provide holders for various configured bubbles and various dimensions.

3. A tray as set forth in claim 1 which is formed of a plurality of spaced intersecting members with said spaced intersecting members forming holders for supporting the bubble before it is transferred into the sealing fixture.

4. A tray as set forth in claim 3 in which the spaced intersecting members are wires and in which said wires have tensioning means for maintaining said wires under tension and in which the wires support the bubble by the flanges on said bubble, saidspaced intersecting wires accommodating themselves to permit the bubble to be pushed down and transferred into said sealing fixture.

5. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in whch the spaced members are flat strips.

6. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which there are a plurality of such preloading trays which are rotatably supported so that one of said preloading trays already loaded is positionable above the sealing fixture to receive the bubbles from said preloaded tray and in which the other trays may be preloaded while said sealing fixture is being loaded.

7. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which the preloading tray is stationary and in which the sealing fixture is moved linearly with respect to said stationary preloading tray. 

1. A preloading tray for supporting flanged bubbles for use in connection with a heat sealing apparatus and a slidably supported sealing fixture, said preloading tray positioned in spaced relation to said heat sealing apparatus with said sealing fixture between said heat sealing apparatus and said preloading tray and slidably movable into and out of said heat sealing apparatus and also under said preloading tray, said preloading tray including a frame member having a plurality of resiliently mounted spaced members connected to said frame and providing open spaces between said members, with the flanges of the bubbles positionable to rest on said spaced members with the bubble extending therebelow and adapted to support a product therein, means for mounting said sealing fixture slidably directly under said preloading tray to permit transfer of said bubble and product to said sealing fixture by moving said bubble downwardly so that the flange of the bubble passes between the spaced members so that said preloading tray remains free for subsequent preloading as said sealing fixture is moved into and out of said heat sealing apparatus.
 2. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which the spaced members are adjustable relative to each other and to said frame to provide holders for various configured bubbles and various dimensions.
 3. A tray as set forth in claim 1 which is formed of a plurality of spaced intersecting members with said spaced intersecting members forming holders for supporting the bubble before it is transferred into the sealing fixture.
 4. A tray as set forth in claim 3 in which the spaced intersecting members are wires and in which said wires have tensioning means for maintaining said wires under tension and in which the wires support the bubble by the flanges on said bubble, said spaced intersecting wires accommodating themselves to permit the bubble to be pushed down and transferred into said sealing fixture.
 5. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in whch the spaced members are flat strips.
 6. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which there are a plurality of such preloading trays which are rotatably supported so that one of said preloading trays already loaded is positionable above the sealing fixture to receive the bubbles from said preloaded tray and in which the other trays may be preloaded while said sealing fixture is being loaded.
 7. A tray as set forth in claim 1 in which the preloading tray is stationary and in which the sealing fixture is moved linearly with respect to said stationary preloading tray. 